Germany assistant coach Wagner to step down in summer

Sandro Wagner will step down as German national team assistant coach in summer because he wants to take the next step and become a head coach.

The German Football Federation (DFB) said on Friday that Wagner asked to be released and will leave after the Nations League finals in early June where Germany play Portugal in the semi-final, and then the final or match for third place.

Former Bayern Munich and Germany striker Wagner, 37, became national team assistant coach in 2023 when Julian Nagelsmann was appointed head coach.

He helped the team get back on track after some poor years as Germany reached the Euro 2024 quarter-finals and now the Nations League Final Four.

"Working as an assistant coach for the German national team was and is a huge honour for me. I will always be grateful for this opportunity and am proud that we have achieved so much with a great coaching team," he said in the DFB statement.

"But I want to take the next step soon. It's no secret that I have a great desire to work as a head coach myself one day."

Nagelsmann said: "I personally understand Sandro's desire to become head coach and respect his decision. We had a good and always transparent dialogue. Sandro has enriched our team with his expertise and as a person."

National team sporting director Rudi Völler said that Wagner "has developed enormously in his collaboration with Julian Nagelsmann" and that he "played a decisive role in our team's inspiring performance" at the home Euros.

"I am sure that we will soon see Sandro back on the sidelines as head coach. He will go his own way!" Völler said.